Valve assembly



J. J; McBRlDE VALVE ASSEMBMv Dec. 9, 1930.

iledMay 14, 1928 sheets-sheet 1 Dec. 9,1930. 1 1 MCBRLDE 1,784,460

VALVE AS SEMBLY Filed May 14, 1928 2 sheets-Sheen 2 /TURNEY Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED vSTATES PATENT orifice JOHN J. MCBRIDE, OF BAYONNE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR T AMERICAN CAR AND FOUNDRY CVOMPANYyOF NEV`YORK.N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY VALVE ASSEMBLY Application led May 14, 1928.

This invention relates generally to an improved car tank discharge means and has particular reference to a valve assembly for controlling discharge of the tank lading from a tank.

. In valves of the general type shown herein, it has been found that sometimes several parts thereof will bind together due to various causes; for example,the adhesion of the tank lading with the several parts, and when it is desired to unseatk the valve to permit discharge of tank lading, the valve will be fractured or some other part of the assembly will be cracked or fractured necessitating replacement of parts and a consequent added expense to the upkeep of the general assembly. This, it is believed, is due to a unitary construction of the valve and valve stem, and one object of the present invention is to eliminate the disadvantage aforesaid.

Another object of the invention is to provide a valve assemblypin which the several parts thereof will be successively operated by a. valve rod or the like whereby the valve assembly will not be subjected toextreme stresses and strains at one and the same time.

Another object `of the invention is to provide a valve assembly for controlling discharge from a tank or Vthe like which' assembly is formed of few parts and which is strong and durable in operation.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a valve assembly in which the several parts thereof are virtually selfadjusting whereby binding thereof is eliminated and easy operation afforded should the valve rod for any reason be misalined.

Other objects and advantagesof this invention will be apparent from the following descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings forming a. part hereof, in which: n

Figure l is a section through a car tank showing the discharge outlet and the valve arrangement of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view ofa. portion of a discharge outlet showing a valve assembly in section secured thereto;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2;

Serial No. 277,574.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the valve assembly shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Fig. 2;

Fig. (iis a sectional view of the valve assembly with the parts thereof arranged in a different position than that shown in Fig. 2; the valve rod having been actuated;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view ofthe valve assembly,showing the valve in elevated or lifted position to uncover the ports of the valve cage; v

Fig. 9 is a sectional view of a modified form of valve assembly; and

Fig. 10 is a top .plan view of the modification shown in Fig. 9.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, in which similar characters of reference designate similar parts in the several views, a tank of any desired form is shown at A, the same havinga dome B, a discharge' outlet C and a valve cage D.

The valve cage D is preferably of the form shown clearly in the drawings; being externally threaded at its lower end as shown at 2, whereby the cage is secured to the discharge outletC. The cage is further provided with reinforced perforated lugs 4 which take screws 6 for an obvious purpose. The cage D is provided with ports 8 to permit fluid or other tank lading to pass into the cage and past a valve E hereinafter described, into the discharge outlet C.

The cage D is generally tubular in form as shown, and the interior surfacethereof is provided with a bevelled shoulder 10 which supports an actuator F in the form of a sleeve nut which is threadedly engaged with and supports a valve screw 12. The actuator F is clearly shown in F igs..25, 6 and 8 and comprises an internally threaded tubular sleeve 14 having spaced projections or legs 16 at its lower end, the lower surfaces eol Y arcuately bevelled, the` arcs vof which are desired ory preferred number of projections may be formed at the lower end of the sleeve nut to accord with any desired construction. To retain the actuator Von the shoulderlO, the upper edge of the valve cage is provided with a Vplurality, of inwardly vextending ,spaced Hanges 18, the lower edges .of which arebevelled and are adapted to be contacted with by the correspondingly bevelled 'upperk edges of the legs16.A u.Art this point, attention is'called tothe fact that the lowerl surtaceV of the actuator, including therprojection 16, and the upper edges of the A'projections, together with the shoulder 10 and the bevelled surfacesy of the flanges 18, are all struck from the same center.l jThis arrangev ment has been designed vfer the specifcvfpurf poses to bey hereinafter pointed out. vThe yflanges land the shoulder 10, define, .in`

effect, severalv recesses into whichfthe legs Y 16kr extend, and. these recesses arev of'osuch height thatsuiiicient clearanceis provided to i. permit easyfassemblingofthe actuator in the binding, butfthe recesses are-of yinsutlicient y v ment of theactuator, with respect tok the cage and a very limited movement ofthe actuatorin said recesses 1n order to prevent heightto permit substantial vertical movecage in ltherecesses, as no substantialmovement of thejactuator isdesired-orfcontemplated forthepurpose ofthe present invention.y f Y. i c

The actuator vF isk capable ofV rotary reciprocationain the cage-and to limitsuch recip` mcatiomthe flegs of theactuator are adapted toy Contact with a stopV member. 22 supported by .thesupper edge of the valve cage in a recess formed therein, as-srhown at 22. VThe stopy member is retained vagainst vertical vdisv placement by ya key 26 arrangedin upstanding lugs 28formed withthe upper edgefof the yvalve" cage adjacent the recess therein.

y The valve cage D is further provided with atapered valve seat 30 which normally supports'the valve 'E heretofore Amentioned.. 'Ihevalve E is a substantially hollow struc. tureycomprisingthe lower dish-'shaped pore` tion-32 andthetopportion `34 united or connected r by oppositely disposed verticaly webs" 36.rv The lower portion of thevalve is provided with depending wings 37 which serve' to guide 'the valve toits seat as well as "to providek ameans by which the valve maybe freed from .its seatzin the eventthat the same becomes-stuck? thereto for any reason.

` The top portion 34 of'the'valve ris formed with-a conveXareaBS, the are of which isl formed from the same vcenter'as the arcs of the upper andflower surfaces of the legs 16,

andthe lower `end ofthe valvescrew 12 is concave asatl 40 to ynicely rfit vthe convex sur face'offthc valve top'porton 34.Vv From the arrangement Yjust described, it Vcan `be jseen.

that the actuator andthe valve screw 12 are capable of lateral shifting within the cage; the arcs of the upper and lower edges ofthe legs 16 and the; lower concave end of the valve screw 12 being struck from the same center.y During such lateral shifting, it will ybe apparentthat either the upper or lower edges of the legslwillslide onthe under surfaces of the flanges 18 or the bevelledsurface of the shoulder 10, as the case "may Fbef-and "-theilower endfof-vtheevalve screw 121will slide ov'erfthe'convieirareaA of the head portion of the 'valve E. This permits lthe desiredi'amountof flexibility of vthe entire assembly, which may be necessary should the valve vrod 'hereafter described be positioned such vas to bemisalined withthe `assembly as hereinafter described.. Y n

ythat, ythe squared end 44 fof the-valve 4rodr 46 fits vsubstantial,ly tightly therein inox-der to afordsafprompt and immediate operation of the val-ve kassembly upon-'rotationv off the `valve rod. .-'lhevalvefrod extends upwardly into the dome-Band `is mounted l:within a bracket 47. l Obviously, in 'quantity production, it oftentimes happens thatithe bracketf47 :will not'bev accuratel positioned toy a degreesuch that the valve rody46 willbe altogether:perpendicular androtation oftlevalve rodmaytake place.

. at anangle With'respect'to' the perpendicular.

yBy the arrangement of theactuator and valve screw, such misalinement does ynot hinder/the operation of the device buty the valve rod may unctionsatisfaetorily becauseof the arrangementoftlie Aactuator and valvescrew which permits the lateral-shifting above described. Secured to the lower end: ofthe connector 50 by as'uitableastener 53 is alnut154havng oppositely disposedswings y56 y.the nut -thus being arrangedfwithin the'valve'Eintermedii ate' the @top vand ybottom. iportions thereof, vas

j w-ill/be-:apparent i AThe vertical webs`36' ofthe vlvelEiane'Provided lwith internally arranged sharply de-v n fined-recesses 58,60Land=62 which form oppositely` arranged `abutnents 64 and 66 respe'ctively which areso arranged as to be contacted.

with by the wings 56 lof the nuty 54 upon rotation of the connector. 50. The :recesses 60er-e provided `for the Apurpose rvof :maintaining a sufficient clearance for the aembly o'fthefnut 54jwithftheconnector 50.V f f Figs.;,9. and 10 disclosea modified 'form of the invention in \vh.ich-rthe'valve E is Vactuatedby suitablelgearing. yfInlthe form shown in these figures, the screw 12 is provided with l ditions.

a gear 68 at its upper end, the teeth of which are engaged by an elongated pinion 70, the lower end of which is provided with a. bearing 72 mounted for rotation in a shelfe formed preferably with the valve cage D. The pinion is recessed to receive the squared lower end-i 6 of a valve rod, as shown, and is mountedL in the pinion bracket 78 secured to the shelf .74

suitable fasteners 80.

With the device of the present invention assembled as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it is apparent that the valve closes the discharge outlet against the passage of the tank lading. When it is desired to unload the tank, the valve rod 46 is actuated thereby rotating the valve screw 12 as will beapparent. The valve screw 12, as before described, is threadedly engaged in the actuator F, and when the valve E is in seated position, the upper edges of the legs 16 are in engagement with the lower surfaces or edges of the flanges 18 as clearly shown in Fig. 2.v The legs 16 have been designated for purposes of description as 82, 84 and 86 respectively in Fig. 5, and it can be seen in said ligure that with the parts assembled as shown in Fig. 2, the leg 86 is in contact with the stop member 22. Now upon rotation or actuation of the valve rod i6 as before described and the resultant rotation of the valve screw, it will be apparent that the actuator F will be rotated f also until the leg 84 contacts with the opposite side or edge of the stop member 22. This operation, it will be apparent, will initially release the actuated parts and if the actuator F was previously stuck to the valve cage for any reason, it "will be released and rotated as just described until the' lower surfaces of the legs l16 engage with the shoulderk 10 whereupon the valve screw will be lifted due to its rotation within the actuator F. It will be apparent that rotationof the valve screw 12 will free the lower end thereof from the upper surface of the valve under normal con- Should the valve screw be stuck to the valve, obviously the valve will ,rotate therewith'but this is b-y far'the exception as usually the weight of the tank lading which is within the valve cage and surrounds the valve and its screw willfbe sufficient to prevent the-valve from being rotated with the valve screw, and therefore the; valve screw will be freed from its engagement with the valve and lifted from the latteras shown in Fig. 6. During the operations just describechit is apparent that upon the initial lifting of the valve screw, there is no movenient of the valve itself. Thisis considered important for the reason that in valve assemblies of this general type, it has been found that when .the parts are so arranged that rotation ofthe valve rod reacts upon all parts simultaneously, sometimes certain parts are fractured or broken due to the noriL l. binding thereof or due to sticking of the parts as the result of the adhesion of the tank lading therewith or the congealing of said lading. In the valve of the present invention, said disadvantages are eliminated by actuating the several moving parts in succession rather than in unison. So, actuation of the valve rod .rst actuates the sleeve nut 12 and the actuator F to free the valve screw from its engagement with the valve E. The connector obviously is rotated and during partial rotation of the valve screw and the initial release of the joint between the valve and the valve screw, it will be apparent that the wings 56 of the nut 5a will move from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3 where they are in contact with the abutments 66, to the position shown in Fig. 7 that is, until they contact with abutments 64. Continued v,rotation of the valve rod will rotate or grind the valve .on its seat, thus freeing the valve from its seat if the valve be stuck to the seat, and the wiping of the valve will continue until the wing nut 5a is elevated sufficiently to engage the under surface 8O of the top portion of said valve, whereupon continued rotation of the valve rod will lift the valve E from its seat, as shown in 8 and permit discharge of the tank contents through the cage into the discharge outlet C. As clearly shown in the drawings, the actuator overlies the valve so that the latter may contact therewith when elevated, the actuator thus serving as a stop to limit the rise of the valve.

Referring now to the type of valve assembly shown in Figs. 9 and l0, operation of the valve rod will canse a rotation of the pinion 'l'O and an actuation of the valve screw shown in said figures; the teethof the pinion operating the gear 68 to effect a lifting of the valve screw. Aside from this, the operation of the type of valve shown in Figs. 9 and 10 is identical with that'of the remaining figures in the case and no further description thereof seems to be necessary.

ln closing the valve, the valve rod 46 of Figs. 2 and 8 is reversely rotated tolower the valve screw 12 and the valve E; the valve screw working through the actuator F until the valve is seated within the cage. lVhen the valve is seated, continued rotation of the valve rod will cause the wings of the nut 54 to leave the abutments 64 and'engage the abutments 66 and grind the valve on its seat until the valve screw contactswith the concave area of the top portion of the valve. Further rotation will tightly secure the valve to its seat as will be apparent and will also elevate the actuator F until the upper edges of the legs contact with the lower edges of the flanges 18; the actuator' F being rotated until the projection 86 contacts with the stop member 22, and when this has taken place the entire assembly is in sealing position,

From the above description, it is believed thatthe construction and operationY ofthe device will fully appaienttothoseskilled in theart when the said description is'conf normally seatedwin the cage' and normally retained in t seated position` by saidlzvalve n vin tlievcage and adapted to be engaged by` Ys idered in conjunction with the accompany-` ing drawings.

. Itis `to beuiiderstood that they diare for illustrative ypurposes only and that swings various'changes inthe forni and proportions of the device may be made Within the scope of the appended claims Withoutdeparting from the spirit ofthe invention.

`VVliat'is claimed is:kk 1. valve assemblycomprising va valve cage, :1n-actuator in said cage and so arranged as tobe capable ofipartial rotation, :i valve screw Supported byfthe actuator and capabley of verticaly movementre'lativetliereto, Va lvalve screw, lmeans kconnecting said valve .screw and valvegtozpermit relative inoveinenttherebetween, and means carriedfby said connecting.meanstforA en gagingtlie valve to grindithe latter on its seatafter partial elevation of the i valvescrew and to lift said valve `from its seat npon'continued elevation of the valve screw. v f c v f 2..A `valve assembly comprising a Avalve cage, anfaetuator therein, a valve screw carriedbythe actuator, avalve normally seated and vdisengaged from the valve screw, and

meanslooselyiconnecting said valve screw' and valve, said valve screw being rotatable wherebythegactuatcr is first moved and the valve screw elevated from the valve to permit grinding of the valve on its seat and its sub,-

' sequent liftingupon continued rctationof the valve screw. y 3; A' valve assembly comprising a rvalve cage, a valve seated in the cage, an actuator,` i'nountedin-the cage and restrained against substantial vertical movement, a valvescrew supported by the 4actuator and adaptedt to` engage with and be disengaged from the valve,

means supportedby the valve'screw for, connectingthe valvetherewitli,and means carried bysaidconnectingmeans -or engagingr thevalve after partialk rotatie-n of the-valve screwy f to jgrindfthe valve onk its seat and for liftingtheivalve upon continued-rotation of saidvalve screw.L f

4. A valve .assembly comprising a valvek cage, afvalve seated therein, a valve screw f mounted in the4 cage and adapted to engage and to be'disengaged from the valve, a connector supported by the valve screw and ex-y tending inte the valve, means at the lower end of the connector for rotating the valve,

and means for elevatingtlie valve screw to disengage the same from vthe valve whereby after partial elevation of the valve screwk y the valve is,y ground on its'seat and upon vfurther elevation the valve is lifted.

5. A'valve assemblyV ofthe kindl described and means zconnecti vmeans in said fvalvecage for grinding valve y'on its seat-and'for lifting said -valvel Y. maand comprisingafvalve cage `havinga vvalve seat, Y

aV valve ynormally rpositioned on said seat,

adapted yto beengag'ed fwitli and disengaged from fthe valve, and means connecting said screw `*and k.valve permitting relative Amove- Va valvescrew supported in said cagerand Y menttherebetweenandiso -formed as lto grind Y f y said valve ion 'its seat after disengagement of the valve screw from the valve. c 6. A valve assembly f the krkind described comprisinga valve cage having avalveseat, s

a valve-.normally-positionedon the seat, and means for operating said `valve 4.comprising ay rotatable valve screw in'the ,cage,`;and a loose.. 'connectionV between-v said "valve and valve screw operative ,fait/er partial rotation seat and to lift-said yvalve itsseat.

f7, A valve'assembly-ozthelkind describedy v comprising-a ,valve'cage-,having a valve seat,

a -va'lve normally pcifsitionedaonl the seat, and means for operating the valve:y comprising a valve stem. movable relative tothe 4valve, and 1 means tconnectingfsaid stem land valve and ymovablewith the' steinl to grind the valve onitslseat after thev commencementoffmove- .Y

ment Y of i the astemfand to 'lift said :valve from its sseat upon continuedy movement of the stem. i ,f Y

y8. Al* valvezassembly-comprising a 'valve cage having a valve. seat therein, Ia lvalve normally supported on the seat,a valve; screw in said cage adapted .to be 'engaged with or f disengaged from said val've', an `actuator in said ycage in whichr thevalve:.screwrotates;- ysaid valve screw vand valve for grinding .said ivalvfe to itsy seatfafter partial @rotation Vof the valve screw: and; ffor f liftingsaid valve Yfrom '1 its 4seat followin'g grinding ithereof andzupon continued -rot'a-"f tion-ofthefvalve:screw.' A

9. In' a Vvalve assembly, a :valve z f 1 valvek normally seated rtherein, `operating sai afterc grinding, 'and' a val-verod connected to said:operating3 means, lsaid means V`being horizentally's i able, `in 'said cage relativey to'thevalveto coinpeirisatek for misalinement f,

' its valvesaid screw being shiftable on the i, valvey upon shiftingrof the actuator, and means connecting said valve screwand valve forv grindingthe latter on its seat. after partial,k rotation of the valve screwand for liftingV said valve 'from :its seat vfollowing Vgrinding thereof and` upon continued vrotation of-f the valve cscrew. i

i 1.1. `In favalve assembly,- a valve cage, a.

` ing it with the valve tor operating the same and having its lower end conformed to the conveX area of the valve to be engaged therewith to shift thereon and to be disengaged therefrom, a horizontally shiftable actuator supporting said screw and in which the latter is movable, said actuator' being provided with arcuately beveled bearing surfaces formed on arcs having a center common with the arc of the convex area of said valve.

-3. ln a valve assembly, a valve cage, a valve normally seated therein, a horizontally shiftable actuator in said cage, and a valve screw having means for operatively engaging the valve and supported by and movable in the actuator, said valve screw being adapted to engage with and be disengaged from the valve and being shitable thereon upon shifting of the actuator.

141-. In a valve assembly, a valve cage, a valve normally seated therein, a horizontally shiftable actuator in said cage, a valve screw supported by and movable in the actuator and adapted to engage with and be disengaged from the valve and being shittable thereon upon shifting of the actuator, and means connecting said valve screw and valve.

l5. In a valve assembly, a valve cage having a valve normally seated therein, and means for operating said valve comprising an actuator in said cage, a valve screw engageable with said actuator and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged Jfrom the valve, operative means between said valve screw and valve and a valve rod for rotating said valve screw, said valve screw and actuator being so arranged as to be capable of horizontal shifting in said cage to compensate for misalinement thereof and of the valve rod.

16. In a valve assembly, a valve cage, a valvenormally seated therein, an actuator in said cage having arcuately beveled bearing surfaces contacting with the cage, a valve screw engageable with said actuator and having its lower end curved on an arc struck from a center common to the arcs rof thel beveled bearing surfaces of the actuator and normally seated on the valve, and means connecting the valve screw and valve whereby the latter is actuated after partial operation of the valve screw, said means permitting horizontal shifting of the actuator and valve screw relative to the valve.

17. In a valve assembly, a valve cage, a valve normally seated therein, a horizontally shiftable partially rotatable actuator in said cage, a valve screw supported by and rotatable in said actuator and adapted to be engaged with and disengaged from th-e valve, said screw being shiftable with the'actuatcr relative 'to the valve, a connector supported by the valve screw and extended into the valve,

l and means on the connector for .engaging the valve to grind the latter on its seat after partialrotation ot the valve screw and for lifting the valve from its seat upon continued rotation of the screw.

i8; in a valve assembly7 a valve cage, va valve therein, an actuator in said cage and capable of vertical and lateral shifting therein, and a valve screw supported by and movable in the actuator and adapted to engage with and to be disengaged from the valve and having means for operatively connecting it `with the valve.

19. In a valve assembly, a valve cage, a valve normally seated therein, an actuator in said cage and capable of lateral shifting therein, a valve screw carried by the actuator and adapted to engage withand be disen- Y valve therein, aY valve screw, means loosely `connecting the valve screw and valve, a valve rod for actuating the valve screw, and means in said cage to which the valve screw is connected and by which said valve screw is supported independently of the valve, said last named means being shiftable with respect to the cage to compensate for misalineinent of the valve rod.

2l; In -a valve assembly, a cage, a valve therein, a valve screw independent of said valve but adapted to engage the latter to secure it in seated position, a loose connection between said valve and valve screw, a valve rod for operating the valve screw, and means in said cage for supporting the valve screw, said means being capable of vertical shifting and partial rotation upon actuation of the valve screw and being so mounted as to permit lateral shifting to compensate for misalinement of the valve rod.

22. ln a valve assembly, a valve cage, a valve therein, a valve screw independent of said valve, a valve rod engaged with the valve screw, an actuator for supporting the valve screw, means connecting thevalve screw and valve to elevate the latter after partial actuation of the valve screw, the valve screw being so formed as to properly engage the valve in the yevent of misalinement of the valve rod and l said actuator being shiftable to compensate for misalinement of the valve rod.

23. In a valve assembly, a valve cage, an actuator therein capable of limited vertical and lateral shifting, a valve screw movable f` insaid :actuatorgomeans for actuating said 1v valve screwyavalve, and operative vmeans c connecting the valve and Vvalve screw andV .permitting v relative movement therebetween, -said actuatoroverlyng the valve whereby kto y, "limit the upward movement of the latter. f l

a l 24. Inr a valve assembly,v avalvefcage, a

' valve screw and a valve looselyf connected Y f' vthonet() to. permit relative ymovement therevalve, a valvescrew loosely connected to the valvefandy capable of limitedL movement relative-thereto, and; an actuator in the valve cage fol-supporting said valve screw, said actuator overlying the valveto limit the upward move- K ment thereof, said. actuator being capable of limiting shifting to compensate for rnisa'line-r ment ofthe parts of 'saidassembly 25. Inra valveassembly, a valve cage,l a .f valme=screwr-and avalve loosely-connected thenethga valve rod oonnectedto the: valve screw, andi means: for aclj ustably supporting said" valve Screw eomprlsing lan: actuator 1n t Said cage and capable of shifting tocompensate-for misalinement offthe valveirod rela-y 'Lt'vetaotlievalve.,i f

26,111' Vva valve assembly,v a. valvek cage; a.

valveserw :andi a valve -loosel7 connectedl rmit' velativemovement therebean `-`an-aetuator to which vthe valve Senew notably'connected`v arranged in the valve ycage and capable of limitedY 'shifting SNHJI'nf 'al valve; assembly, a valve cage, a

'valweserew and a-V valveflo'osely connected theaetotopermit relative movement there'- l fbetweenffandl ana actuator to whichl the valve screw ie adjiistfably connected arranged in the value1y cage andl capable of' limited vertical Mldluteralshifting;

281-111 ar4 valveasrsemblyl; a valve cage, Va

between, and antactuator to which the valve screwl Vits adiustably connected `arranged in the-valve cage and capable of limited vertical andlateral shiftingy andpartial rotation.'

Inwmees whereoiil havebereunto set my Y vJOHSNJ. MCBR'IDE. 

